Fastener for envelopes



L. ARNTZ.

FASTENER FOR ENVELOPES.

APPLxcATmN FILED MAR. 14.1921.

1,417,790. l Patented 1m30, 1922.

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LEVI ARNTZ, OF DES MONES, IGW'A.

rins'rmmn noia nivvnrorns.

Application iled iiarch 14, 1921.

To all fio/rom, t may concern:

Be it known that l, Lnw Anrr'rz, a citizen of the United States, and a resident et Des Moines, in the county of Folk and State of Iowa, lave invented a certain new and use 'ful Fastener for Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an envelope fastener, whereby it will be dicult to open the envelope without the mutilation thereof, the parts being or simple, durable, and inexpensive construction.

More particularly, my invention relates to a fastener device for envelopes which is so adapted that when once closed, the envelope closure Hap cannot be opened for gaining access to the contents of the envelope without the mutilation of the envelope.

It will. be understood that with the ordinary glue type o1 envelopes the envelope may be steamed and opened', and then sealed again without the addressee knowing of it.

My invention, is provided to overcome this serious problem. My invention is also adapti ed to be used as a closure device ttor cartons, boxes, and the like.

With these and other objects in view my .invention consists iu the construction, ai" rangement and combination. oi? the various parts of my device, whereby the objects con-- templated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, andl illustrated in e accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of an envelope with my improved fastener device shown thereon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged exaggerated sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the plate forming partei my device.

Figure 4C is a view of one of the plates and pin member which are secured to the body portion of the envelope or the like, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a con` tainer with my improved fastening means shown thereon.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate an ordinary envelope which is provided with a closure liap 11. The closure flap 11 is of the ordinary type and provided with the ordinary glue for sealing of the envelope.

My improved device which is designed to prevent any tampering with the envelope comprises a plate 12 and lingers 13 extending radially from its periphery, the fingers 13 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, Y1922. Serial No. 452,204.

extending through the body portion of the envelope 10 and are clinched for securely holding the plate 12 to the body oin the envelope.

The plate 12 is provided with a central opening which has its edge curved as at 14., so as to form a slight iiange. The body portion of the envelope 10 is provided with an opening which registers with the opening in plate 12. Extending through the opening in the plate 12 and resting against the flange 14, is a pin member 15, made of compara tively soft, material.

The pin member 15 is provided with a head 16, which prevents it from passing through the opening' in plate 12. in this con-V nection, it will be understood that the pin member 15 and plate 12 .may be formed in. tegral. The upper outer end of the pin member 16 is slightly contracted as at 17. The purpose of which will be hereafter more fully set forth.

Secured to the closure flap 11 is a plate 18 and fingers 19 extending radially outwardly from its periphery. The lingers 19 are projected through openings in the closure Vflap 11 and are clinched so as to securely hold the plate 18 to the closure Hap 11. The plate 18 provided with a. central opening 20 which registers with an opening in the closure flap .l1 and with the pin member 15.

The material around the opening 20 in the plate 18 is slit as at 21. The slitting of the material or' plate 18 around the opening 2O as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings causes movable linger members 22 to be formed.

Alt will be understood that the plate 18 is formed of resilient material so as to permit themovable fingers of 22 to be sprung to various positions.

In the practical operation of my device the closing of the closure flap will cause the pin member 15 to be projected through the opening 2O in the plate 18.

The diameter of the opening 2O is slightly less than the diameter of the pin member 15. When the pin member 15 is forced into the opening 2O it will cause the movable lingers 22 to be sprung outwardly, as shown in Fiures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The inner edge oi" the lingers 22 grip and engage the pin member 15. The contracted portion 17 of the pin member 15 permits the easy starting of the plate 18 on to the pin member 15. When the plate member 18 has been moved its full limit of movement,

scribed it will be seen that the envelope is then securely fastened. lf the envelope were to be opened any outward movement of the flap would cause the movable lingers 22 to more firmly engage the pin member 15.

From the construction of the parts just deif the envelope is to be opened the envelope must be mutilated. ln the `Figure 5 of the drawings l have shown my fastener device as applied to a box or container.

A box 23 is provided which has a closure flap 24 thereon. A` series of fastener devices are provided on the body of the box 23 and the flap 24, Which when they coaot will cause the flap 24: to be securely locked.

It will be understood that my fastener is applicable to a great many containers and the like. By providing the plates 12 and 18 of substantial sizes it prevents their accidental removal from the envelope V10 and closure flap 11 which are of paper or other fragile material.

l't will be seen that my device will substan. tially eliminate the unauthorized opening of envelopes and sealing them again by what may be termned the steam process.

Some changes may be made in the oonstruction and arrangement of the parts of my machine Without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and

it is my intention to cover by my ela-im, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanilcal equivalents, which may be resasonably included within its scope.

l claim as my invention:

ln combination with an envelope or oontainer having a closure flap thereon, a fastener device for preventing` the opening of the envelope or container without the mutilation thereof, said device includingaplate secured to the back of the envelope or container, said plate having an opening formed therein, an outwardly extending curved flange formed on'the edge of said opening, a pin received in said opening having a head thereon, the head on said pin being received on the under side of said plate and resting against the 'curved flange, a second plate secured to the closure flap of the envelope of the container, said second plate being provided With an opening adapted to receive said pin member When the closure flap is in closed position, means for preventing the opening of said closure ilap when once closed, said means comprising resilient lingers formed on said second plate, said fingers being designed to coaet With the pin member forpreventing movement in one direction as specified.

Des Moines, Iowa, March 107 1921. i

LEW ARNTZ. 

